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Great Kiskadee

Pitangus sulphuratusOrder: PASSERIFORMESFamily: Flycatchers (Tyrannidae)

Breeding Location:

Lakes, Rivers



Breeding Type:

Monogamous, Solitary nester



Breeding Population:

Fairly common



Egg Color:

Creamy white with dark brown and lavender spots



Number of Eggs:

2 - 5



Incubation Days:

13 - 15



Egg Incubator:

Female



Nest Material:

Grasses, weeds, and bark strips.



Migration:

Nonmigratory



Splitbar

Overview

Great Kiskadee: Large flycatcher with brown upperparts, white head with black cap and eye-line, and bright yellow underparts. Yellow crown patch is usually concealed. Wings and tail are chestnut-brown. Black bill, legs and feet. Slow fluttering direct flight with shallow wing beats.

Range and Habitat

Great Kiskadee: Resident from extreme southern Texas (lower Rio Grande Valley) and southward. Preferred habitats include rivers, streams, and lakes bordered with dense vegetation; also found in open country and parks.

Breeding and Nesting

Great Kiskadee: Two to five white eggs spotted with brown and lavender are laid in a bulky, domed nest with a side entrance made of grass, weeds, bark strips, moss, and other plant fibers, and built in a thorn tree or bush 6 to 50 feet above the ground. Incubation ranges from 13 to 15 days and is carried out by the female.

Foraging and Feeding

Great Kiskadee: Feeds on variety of crawling and flying insects. Sallies to catch prey, often in mid-air, then returns to perch and beats the victim on the branch several times before eating. Also eats frogs, small lizards, baby birds, and mice.

Readily Eats

Meal Worms

Vocalization

Great Kiskadee: Slow, clear, raucous "kiss-ka-dee"; also makes a bold, screaming "cree-ah."

Similar Species

Great Kiskadee: None in range.

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Family Flycatcher (Tyrannidae)_blue
Species Pitangus sulphuratus
Length9.5 - 10 Inches
Wingspan16 Inches

Great Kiskadee

Great Kiskadee: Large flycatcher with brown upperparts, white head with black cap and eye-line, and bright yellow underparts. Yellow crown patch is usually concealed. Wings and tail are chestnut-brown. Black bill, legs and feet. Slow fluttering direct flight with shallow wing beats.

● Song: "kiss-ka-dee", "cree-ah"

● Foraging & Feeding: Great Kiskadee: Feeds on variety of crawling and flying insects. Sallies to catch prey, often in mid-air, then returns to perch and beats the victim on the branch several times before eating. Also eats frogs, small lizards, baby birds, and mice.

● Breeding & nesting: Great Kiskadee: Two to five white eggs spotted with brown and lavender are laid in a bulky, domed nest with a side entrance made of grass, weeds, bark strips, moss, and other plant fibers, and built in a thorn tree or bush 6 to 50 feet above the ground. Incubation ranges from 13 to 15 days and is carried out by the female.

● Similar species: Great Kiskadee: None in range.

Flight Pattern

Slow fluttering direct flight with shallow wing beats.
Great Kiskadee Breeding Male Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Great Kiskadee: Resident from extreme southern Texas (lower Rio Grande Valley) and southward. Preferred habitats include rivers, streams, and lakes bordered with dense vegetation; also found in open country and parks.
BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester
PopulationFairly common
MigrationNonmigratory
Weight2.1 Ounces